Do I think there will be another mind-blowing bid for Mo Salah? Is the Pope a Liverpool fan?
In answer to the second question, one of them definitely was! My former team-mate Jerzy Dudek met with Pope John Paul II at the Vatican, and was told – genuinely – he was a massive Red, after falling in love with the city on his visit in 1981.
Regarding the biggest question in football at the moment – let’s call it the Salah saga – well, watching the situation unfold over here in Saudi Arabia, it is PAINFULLY obvious that Al-Ittihad are not going to give up just yet.
There’s still a week left in the Saudi transfer window, and I can tell you Salah WILL be ending up here. Maybe not in this window, but some time soon, because of who he is, and just how many people here want it to happen so desperately.
There’s no doubt he’s by far the most famous footballer in this part of the world and, as I said last week, they want him to be the face of the Saudi Pro League. Also as we’ve seen elsewhere, what the Saudis want they usually get.
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The money Liverpool have already turned down is truly mind-boggling. But, honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if that is DOUBLED before the end of this week.
Think about what a coup it would be for the Pro League to have him as their ambassador. He’s genuinely a superstar... after Messi and Ronaldo, he’s the most famous footballer in the world. That’s the level he’s at.
And look, I don’t want him to go. I’m a Liverpool fan at heart, I want what is best for my club, and I think that even £150million may not be enough for it to make business sense for the Anfield owners.
Yes, that is really an absolutely crazy amount of money for a 31-year-old player. But think how much money they could lose if they sell Salah without the chance to sign any sort of replacement.
Al-Ittihad are desperate to sign Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah (PETER POWELL/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)It could cost a helluva lot more than £150m if they miss out on the top four and a place in the Champions League again – and that’s even before you think about what it could cost in lost sponsorship.
Forget this talk about his age. Yeah, he’s at a stage when you traditionally think players start to decline, but when you look at the modern-day footballer now, they’re so much better prepared to go on playing deep into their 30s.
Salah is super-fit – I’ve not seen a player look after himself better in all my time in football. He’s never injured, and given most footballers do suffer because of the pace of the game, that is something very hard to replace.
Look at the matches he’s played for Liverpool – 308 in six seasons, it’s remarkable. If Mo does stay this season he’ll soon be in the top 50 of all-time Liverpool appearances, which shows what a legend he already is at the club.
So you’d be losing an all-time great. And no amount of money can guarantee you find a similar great in the same generation. I mean, it took Liverpool 20 years to replace me when I left in 2001!
But look, we know there will be more money offered. And the key thing here is, when they’re talking telephone numbers for his potential salary, at what point is Mo himself persuaded?
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He’s from Egypt which has a border with Saudi Arabia, a Muslim and someone that I know – and I know him fairly well – wants to build on the incredible work for his country and the people of his home town that he has already carried out.
It would be a tough decision for him, and a tough decision for Liverpool. I know there will be another huge bid, and I know it could be one which is hard to refuse, for player and club.
Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler, who now manages Saudi side Al-Qadsiah, believes Salah will move there one day (Getty Images)My advice though, would be to stay at Anfield longer. Mo can help Liverpool get back into the Champions League, he can help them win more titles and more trophies – and they will still be waiting in Saudi Arabia.
He’ll definitely play on past 36, the age Messi is now, and also Ronaldo, who is 38. And if he continues to win things with Liverpool and break all their scoring records, then he’ll become an even greater legend and hero in this part of the world.
So I think the telephone numbers will still be there, and the chance to continue his charitable and valuable community and equality work. It’s going to be a helluva few days if you’re a Liverpool fan like me… so brace yourself for something mind-boggling this week, Reds!
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